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Signs that my kidneys are not working well

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

The kidneys are in charge of filtering our blood , helping to eliminate toxins and purify our body, which is why its proper functioning is essential for our health. But various conditions can compromise your well-being, detecting them early is important to find the appropriate treatment and ensure that our body is always healthy.

Conditions such as kidney stones, infections, nephritis or kidney failure can affect these important organs, compromising our health. Do you know how to detect that they are failing? In this FastlyHealarticle we reveal some signs that your kidneys are not working well , watch out for them!

What is the function of the kidneys?

Proper kidney function is very important to guarantee our general health, as these organs fulfill important functions in the purification process of our body.

Some of the functions of the kidneys are:

  • Purify the blood by removing waste, toxins, excess water, medication, etc. All these elements are filtered and turned into liquid that will be stored in the bladder and later expelled in the form of urine.
  • Regulate the amount of calcium in our blood as well as the production of vitamin D. When we ingest a lot of calcium in the diet or through supplements, the kidneys may not be able to eliminate it effectively, thus leading to the formation of kidney stones composed mainly of this mineral.
  • Regulate the amount of acids present in our body to prevent them from accumulating and causing health problems.
  • Releasing the hormone renin, responsible for regulating blood pressure.
  • Releasing erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Conditions that can affect our kidneys

Because they are one of the body’s purifying organs, when the balance we need to function properly is lost, we run the risk of suffering from various conditions that affect our kidneys and therefore our general health.

Some common kidney diseases are:

  • Calculi or stones in the kidneys : they appear when calcium, uric acid or struvite accumulate in the body and cannot be adequately eliminated through the urine.
  • Urinary tract infections or pyelonephritis . The infection originates in the urethra or bladder and, if not treated, rises to the kidneys, affecting their function.
  • Kidney failure , a chronic disease in which the kidneys’ ability to filter blood is slowly lost.
  • Kidney cysts
  • Cancer in the kidney .

Symptoms that your kidneys are not working well

Our body is a highly efficient machine, and when one of the components of the gear does not work properly, the body begins to send small signals. Some of them can be ignored or confused with other conditions, however if you present one or more of the following symptoms, it is best to see a doctor for a checkup. A blood test and urine sample are sufficient to detect problems with kidney function.

Some signs that your kidneys are not working well are:

Major changes in urine

Because the kidneys are responsible for producing urine, when their function is not adequate, it is common to notice significant changes in urination. Conditions may vary depending on the problem, but some of the signs you may notice are:

  • Urinate much more frequently, it begins to be common to get up at night to urinate and go to the bathroom very often during the day.
  • On the contrary, it may happen that you urinate less frequently and that the liquid has a very dark color or a cloudy appearance.
  • Blood in the urine.
  • Bad smell in urination.
  • Feeling that you are not completely emptying your bladder.

Swollen body

Due to the fluid retention that occurs because the kidneys are not working properly, it is common to notice the inflamed body especially in areas such as the ankles, feet, abdomen, face or hands.

Pain in the lower back or side

This is one of the most common signs that the kidneys are not working well. It occurs in patients with conditions such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and even kidney failure.

Unexplained tiredness and fatigue

As we explained earlier, one of the functions of the kidneys is to produce erythropoietin, a hormone that interferes with the production of red blood cells. When there are problems in the kidneys, the levels of this hormone are affected and therefore the amount of red blood cells in the blood decreases, also reducing the oxygen that our organs receive, including the brain. Patients begin to suffer from anemia and this is the reason why they feel tired and have difficulty concentrating for no apparent reason.

Rashes and itchy skin

This can be a sign of kidney failure because the kidneys are responsible for eliminating toxins from the body, by not doing it properly they accumulate in the body affecting the appearance and health of the dermis.

Nausea and vomiting

It also occurs due to the accumulation of toxins in the body, the body is unable to eliminate waste and tries to do it in other ways, for example through vomiting. This in turn causes loss of appetite and therefore involuntary weight loss.

Bad breath and metallic taste in the mouth

Due to the accumulation of waste in the body, those who suffer from the kidneys often perceive a taste of metal in the mouth accompanied by bad breath. It can also be common to start repelling foods like meat.

Other symptoms that may indicate that your kidneys are not well are:

  • Frequent feeling of cold, even when it is hot. This is due to the anemia that patients with this condition usually suffer from.
  • Feeling short of breath when doing even simple activities like walking a little. This can be caused by the lack of cellular oxygenation.
  • Concentration problems or forgetfulness, also due to the lack of oxygenation of the brain.

If you notice several of these symptoms, it is best to see a doctor for a general check-up that includes blood and urine tests, which will allow you to determine if there is any condition linked to the kidneys.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Signs that my kidneys are not working well , we recommend that you enter our Kidneys and urinary system category .

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